Passing of a friend:
It is with great sadness that I inform the industry of the passing of Jerry McDonnell, president of the Military Produce Group. McDonnell was a friend, a staunch supporter of the military resale business and a visionary in the military market. He had a vision of adapting commercial
produce procurement and merchandising to the military resale system that resulted in a significant improvement in quality and savings for the military patron. His contributions to the Virginia Beach area as an entrepreneur are legendary. We will miss our dear friend. Details of the solemn events to follow are not available as of this posting but will be provided as soon as available.

ALA meets with the White
House:
We had the opportunity this week to follow a meeting at the White House with Capt. Brad Cooper, USN who is the executive director at Joining Forces, the office of the first lady of the United States. Joining Forces is a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. We made it a special point to demonstrate all of the
"good works" that have been accomplished for decades by the military resale system through employment opportunities and the delivery of key benefits to the military and their families. Cooper will be joining us at the convention to recognize the accomplishments of the military resale system and layout further opportunities for a meaningful partnership.

Conference fees and formats come under review:

White House orders agencies to review conference spendingRead the Full StoryGovernment Executive, Tom Shoop
For now, all conference-related expenses must be approved by deputy secretaries.

Plan to further restrict contact with lobbyists draws criticismRead the Full StoryGovernment Executive, Charles S. Clark
Proposed Office of Government Ethics rule would expand limits on gifts and events to cover all civil servants.

Another day in D.C.:

Shutdown looms as federal funding bill dies in HouseRead the Full StoryGovernment Executive, Dan Friedman and Billy House
House and Senate now either have to work out a short-term spending measure or stay in session through their planned recess ahead of the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2012.

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Everyone is hunkering down for the
fight that lies ahead:

Obama's proposal to trim back military benefits draws fireRead the Full StoryThe Virginian-Pilot, Bill Bartel
President Barack Obama's proposal to increase the cost of retirement or health care for service members' families
recently drew fire from some military service associations.
The service groups said the Obama administration is wrongly trying to "civilianize" benefits provided to the military and their families.

Panetta: Big cuts may 'cripple' US industry baseRead the Full StoryDefense News, Marcus Weisgerber
Nearly $1 trillion in military spending cuts over the next decade would "cripple" the
U.S. defense industrial base,
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned, as he continued to urge Congress to look at other parts of the federal budget to lower the country's debt.

Panetta: Added US defense cuts may cause 'serious damage'Read the Full StoryBloomberg News, Viola Gienger
Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta said any cuts to his department beyond about $450 billion the Pentagon is carving out from its budget over 10 years would "do serious damage."

Defense cuts could lead to military draftRead the Full StoryThe Washington
Post, Felicia Sonmez
If the bipartisan debt Super Committee is unable to reach a deal by Thanksgiving, across-the-board cuts to defense
spending could lead to the reinstatement of a military draft, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
said.

House weighs budget cutting Iraq, Afghanistan War funding by $39 billionRead the Full StoryBloomberg News, Roxana Tiron
The U.S. House is considering a stopgap measure to fund the beginning of fiscal year 2012 that would reduce the
budget for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by $39 billion.

Lew joins Panetta in warning of 'significant risk' to
defenseRead the Full StoryBloomberg News, Tony Capaccio
Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew has told U.S. House Republican defense and budget leaders
that automatic across-the-board cuts "could pose a significant risk to national security."

Is there any place to
hide?

Retiree benefits for the military could face cutsRead the Full StoryThe New York Times, James Dao and Mary Williams Walsh
The intense push in Congress this year to reduce the debt and the possibility that the Pentagon might have to begin trimming core programs like weapons procurement, research,
training and construction have suddenly made retiree benefits vulnerable, military officials and experts say.

Senate approps: Trim 580 US programsDefense News Share The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee recently cut $26 billion for the Pentagon's 2012 budget request, freezing defense spending at 2011 levels. To do so, the bill includes 580 reductions to programs requested in the budget, according to the committee's report on its bill.More

Dicks seeks up to $524 billion for defenseAviation Week Share The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee will be pushing to spend up to $524 billion on defense in fiscal 2012  more money on defense than his Senate counterparts are
recommending.More

Army offering 33 buyouts for civilian employeesGovernment Executive Share The Army Materiel Command will offer $25,000 buyouts to more than 30 civilian employees at its headquarters, after a memorandum from Army Secretary John McHugh requested cuts for 1,223 positions, a spokesman said. The move is part of the Army's plan, announced in early August, to cut more than 8,700 civilian positions by September 2012.More

ROTC back at Harvard after 40
yearsThe Boston Globe Share In a ceremony freighted with symbolism, Drew Faust, Harvard University president, lauded the Navy's ROTC program and officially welcomed it onto campus Sept.
21, ending four decades of frosty relations between the university and the military and laying the groundwork for increased recruiting at the school.More

Army looking at how fish oil might reduce suicidesUSA Today Share The Army is eager to know whether omega-3 fatty acids not only are good for the heart, but also might deter soldiers from killing themselves. "I'm all over it, because I'm looking for something to help," says Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the Army's vice chief of staff, who has been working for years to reduce the service's record number of suicides.More

Bigger firms seen in next defense consolidationReuters Share United Technologies Corp's interest in acquiring Goodrich Corp marks the start of a more active consolidation phase in the U.S. aerospace and defense industry that could ultimately winnow the current field of five or six prime contractors.More

White produce passes the testRefresh Share When selecting fresh produce, many try to heed the advice they hear from many sources  look for greens, blues and other bright colors. However, a soon-to-be-released study advises, "Don't overlook white." Based on research, it appears that white fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, bananas, cauliflower, cucumbers and mushrooms may guard against strokes.More

Share your favorite recipes via QR code with ZiplistMashable Share Grocery shopping app Ziplist has launched new features for discovering and sharing dishes that expand its capabilities as a recipe box. Because the 2-year-old startup launched with a focus on shopping
lists, where people can save ingredients from recipes to their lists and clear them after they've shopped, CEO Geoff Allen thinks Ziplist has an advantage over other recipe search engines.More

EPA recognizes New England supermarkets for environmental achievementProgressive Grocer Share Three supermarket retailers based in or operating stores in New England have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership for their achievements in refrigerant
management over the past year. GreenChill is an EPA partnership with supermarkets to reduce harmful refrigerant emissions and decrease partners' impact on the ozone layer and climate change.More

Kuhn Rikon USA launches social media programGourmet
Retailer Share Kuhn Rikon USA in Novato, Calif., has initiated a social media program that reaches out to food enthusiasts with recipes, product news and images that showcase the culinary heritage and Swiss design that define the Kuhn Rikon brand.More

Report: Controversial BPA found in
canned children's foodsToday Health News Share The controversial chemical BPA may be lurking in the child-friendly canned foods you've been serving your kids
for dinner, a new report suggests. Breast Cancer Fund researchers tested for bisphenol A in six products specifically marketed to children. BPA, which is found in plastics, cash-register receipts, dental sealants and even money, has been linked in animal studies to a host of health ills, including possible cancers and developmental problems and early puberty.More

Golf tournament  proceeds to benefit the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans  ALA National will hold a golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 3, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at the Hawk's Landing Golf Course. Located just steps from the lobby of the Orlando World
Center Marriott, Hawk's Landing spans more than 220 lush acres of native Florida wildlife and tropical vegetation. It was designed by noted golf architect Robert Cupp Jr. with a par 71 layout, more than 6,600 yards and a slope-rating of 131. Download a registration form HERE.

The theme for this year's national convention captures the business climate we are all facing as we move forward into the uncertainties of the budget deliberations that will take place between now and Thanksgiving. Three separate budget proposals called for the consolidation of the military resale system and one proposal currently under deliberation in the Senate would eliminate appropriated fund support for the military resale system. Current
guidance from the White House directs all federal agencies to plan on a 5-10 percent reduction from current operating levels in order to prepare for the austere funding environment on the horizon. While all the resale commands are preparing for different scenarios the mission requirement to deliver world class programs in support of our troops is unwavering. We can anticipate that the resale commanders will lay out some new strategies and out of the box solutions aimed at meeting these daunting
challenges. ALA will present the outline of a new patron awareness strategy fueled by a powerful. E-commerce engine. It will be more important than ever to make sure your business strategy is in sync with the initiatives outlined by the resale commanders. We are faced with a complexity of challenges that never before have aligned with such a weight of consequence. This is a must-attend event if you are in the military resale business channel.

ALA National
charity golf tournament
ALA National will hold a golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 3, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at the Hawk's Landing Golf Course. Located just steps from the lobby of the Orlando World Center Marriott, Hawk's Landing spans more than 220 lush acres of native Florida wildlife and tropical vegetation. It was designed by noted golf architect Robert Cupp Jr. with a par 71 layout, more than 6,600 yards and a slope-rating of 131.

Partial proceeds will benefit the
National Coalition of Homeless Veterans (www.nchv.org). NCHV is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.

Man gets 6 years for stealing identities, bilking AAFESFort Worth Star-Telegram via Military.com Share A California man who stole about 16,000 identities, including those belonging to active-duty and reserve U.S. service members, and used them to bilk the Army and Air Force Exchange Service was recently sentenced to more than six years in federal prison. Rene Quimby, 42, also was ordered to pay more than $210,000 in restitution to AAFES.More

Toys 'R' Us reveals holiday hot list ahead of retail
packThe Record Share Toys "R" Us released its holiday "hot toy" list Sept. 20, signaling to the toy industry where the largest specialty toy chain placed its bets in stocking its
stores for the crucial fourth quarter. This year's list reflects the Wayne-based toy chain's belief that parents will be willing to spend for certain must-have toys, despite the still-rocky economy.More

Thrill of the hunt: Mintel finds shoppers enjoy looking for discounts, bargainsDrug Store News Share Searching for the best bargains has become pastime among shoppers, according to research conducted by Mintel Inspire. According to the latest data, Mintel found that nearly 64 percent of U.S. moms said
they're spending more time looking for sales, discounts and coupons, compared with last year; while 28 percent of U.K. consumers were classified by Mintel as "bargain hunters" due to their dedication to comparing prices and reading online reviews.More

7-Eleven to acquire 28 Pacific Convenience locations, will remodel/rebrand allChain Store Age Share 7-Eleven is acquiring the retail interests of 28 locations owned by Pacific Convenience & Fuels LLC. The acquisition includes sites in California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, and is slated to close in fourth quarter 2011. All of the locations will be rebranded as 7-Eleven and will retain the Conoco-Phillips/76 gasoline brands.More

Stores reversing big-box trendHouston Chronicle Share The belief in retail that bigger is better may be fading. National chains known for their huge stores are starting to think smaller.More

Michelle Obama, Olive Garden, Red Lobster vow healthier children's mealsLos Angeles Times Share Olive Garden, home of the "Never Ending Pasta Bowl" and Red Lobster of cheddar biscuit fame have both agreed  with a push from Michelle Obama  to serve healthier food to children. Parent company Darden Restaurants  the largest full-service restaurant company in the world  said Sept. 15 it would cut the calorie and sodium content on its menus by 10 percent in five years and 20 percent in a decade.More

NRF launches campaign to push jobs, innovation, consumer valueProgressive Grocer Share The National Retail Federation has launched a first-of-its-kind major yearlong advocacy campaign to advance a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda on behalf of America's retail industry and the $2.48 trillion in GDP and 41.6 million American jobs it supports. A centerpiece of the campaign  which will include lobbying, grassroots, advertising, social media and earned media  is www.RetailMeansJobs.com, an interactive website and action center designed to encourage engagement on behalf of the retail community's agenda.More

Gasoline prices remain far above 2010 levelsLos Angeles
Times Share Retail gasoline prices are falling, but at rates that are difficult to notice, especially in California. Perhaps even worse for consumers during a weak economic recovery, the pump pain remains locked in far above the cost of filling up a tank a year ago.More

The karma of a fast-food burgerPlanet Green Share We tend to talk about the fast-food burger as if it's one entity, but in actuality, that monster fast-food meal deal is the sum of its many parts. And to be frank, it's not pretty.More

Retailers start to suffer super-couponer fatigueAdvertising Age Share A new sport for deal-seeking consumers, extreme couponing can be more of a headache for supermarkets and other retailers, which have seen their couponing models turned sideways by pockets of usage that
go far beyond normal patterns.More

AAFES Executive AnnouncementPromotions & Assignments

On behalf of the Commander, I am pleased to announce the following executive promotions and assignments. Please join me in congratulating these deserving associates:

If you do not,
you can log in under username: trevinojam, password: trevinojam.

When logged in please click on Reference Docs in the upper left corner then Exchange Announcements and Important Supplier Information, open the EPOL Supplier Documents, then open Retail Food Vendor Meeting 2011 and you're there!

Michelle Obama: Support our military familiesUSA Today Share Michelle Obama writes, "Last weekend, Americans across the country joined together to remember that September morning from 10 years ago, honoring the memory of those we lost with service and reflection. And my husband and I were humbled to stand with the families and survivors on the same hallowed grounds where tragedy struck."More

First lady: Military families deserve nation's supportU.S. Department of Defense Share Service members and their families have done all the nation has asked of them over this past decade of war; it's now time for the nation to return their service
and sacrifice with honor and appreciation, first lady Michelle Obama wrote in an op-ed published in a recent edition of USA Today. "We've never asked so much of our all-volunteer force," she wrote. "And we've never asked this much of our military families either."More

Rep. wants free USA-made running shoes for troopsMilitary.com Share U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, is asking President Barack Obama to stand by his "Made in America" pledge by having the U.S. military issue American-made athletic footwear to all enlisted members.
Michaud recently introduced a bill called the "American Shoes for American Servicemembers Act." The act would clarify that the Berry Amendment, which requires that the Defense Department buy certain products from American companies, applies to footwear.More